Officers honored for nabbing armed suspects

June 4, 2014

Getting the criminals off the streets in Lehigh Acres is one of the main goals of the East District Sheriff's Office substation personnel and the other day two local officers - Sgt. Janet Rincon and Deputy Christian Eriksen did exactly that and for their actions, they were commended and honored by the Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce.

The two officers wasted no time in responding to the scene of a crime that was taking place and in doing so, engaged suspects while the crime was still in progress, according to Capt. Todd Garrison, commander of the East District Sheriff's Office.

Speaking before a large crowd on the Tuesday after Memorial Day at the Hut Restaurant in Buckingham, the two officers were given certificates by the chamber for their outstanding work.

Article Photos

Janet Rincon

Christian Eriksen

MEL TOADVINEMaking presentations to honor two Lehigh sheriff’s law officers is Capt. Todd Garrison, left, East Zone sheriff’s commander. The two being honored at the monthly Lehigh chamber luncheon last week were Sgt. Janet Rincon and Deputy Christian Eriksen. At right is Lt. Paul Cummins who helped to present the certificates.

Garrison said that on April 24 at 12:43 a.m., a call was received at the Lee County Sheriff's Office's Communications Center with a report of someone breaking into a home in the early hours of the morning after midnight.

Garrison said the two officers responded to the scene within minutes. While engaged with suspects who were heavily armed, shots were fired and suspects ran from the home; one suspect was taken into custody while the others fled and ran in different directions.

Garrison said additional units from the East District Patrol K9 and Aviation arrived and they joined in the search for the robbers. He said a second suspect was apprehended by a K9 and he was taken to the hospital for treatment from the K9 bite. Then, Garrison said two other suspects were also found in the vicinity including one with a gunshot wound which he said was non-life threatening.

Joining to help in the incident were detectives with the Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit and charges were filed against the four suspects and they are in custody.

Garrison said that the dedication and courage of both Sgt. Rincon and Deputy Eriksen, along with the other members of the Lee County Sheriff's Office which responded to this incident, four criminals are now off the streets and the citizens of Lehigh and Lee County are safer because of it.